BOUNTIFUL—Davis School District Superintendent Reid Newey announced the appointment of John Zurbuchen as Assistant Superintendent at a board meeting held last week.

Zurbuchen will replace outgoing Assistant Superintendent Craig Poll who is retiring at the end of February. Poll has been with the district for 39 years.

“Craig cares about excellence and cares about Davis School District,” said Newey. “He has given his life to make it better.”

“I bleed Davis education,” said Zurbuchen as he accepted the appointment. “We have outstanding kids and a great community.”

A 35-year educator, Zurbuchen is currently the Federal Programs Director for the district. He was the principal of Holt Elementary and North Layton Junior High and assistant principal at Fairfield and North Davis Junior High Schools.

“Moving from teacher to principal to the district offices, I’ve had to oversee a number of projects,” he said. “Now I’ll have even greater oversight of the system. Without a doubt under Reid’s leadership we’ll be heading in a new direction in terms of educating children. I’ll be on the frontlines for what Reid has planned for the Davis School District.”

Zurbuchen also worked in Wisconsin and has taught in Minnesota, Washington and Montana. “I’ve had the good fortune of working in a number of situations,” he said. “But you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone as they say. Davis is a special school district. It is very progressive and student centered.”

He said those who have never been out of the district don’t realize just how special it is. “Utah is another special place recreationally and a great place to raise kids. Davis is a far superior place to educate children.”

Zurbuchen has a bachelor’s from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and a master’s from Montana State University. He will take on his new role March 1.

“We’ll (Craig) be working together until then,” Zurbuchen said. “Craig is a great educator. Going in his place is a very daunting task – there is no replacing him.”

He’s excited to get started though. “No doubt Lord willing and job performance willing, this is where I’ll end my career.”